Convertible seat assembly

Abstract

A seating assembly is made up of both fixed and positionable components. The assembly in a first position provides in a back-to-back relation respective oppositely facing seats. In a second position the assembly provides a substantially horizontal lounge a portion of which is withdrawn from a stored position below the seats. The lounge when withdrawn includes the sitting surface portion of a selected one of the oppositely facing seats as part of the lounge and when stored utilizes such sitting surface portion as part of the selected seat.

1. A seat assembly made up of both fixed and positionable components and adapted in a first position to provide in a back-to-back relation respective forward and rearward direction facing seats, and in a second position to provide a substantially horizontal lounge which includes a sitting surface portion of said rearward direction facing seat, said assembly comprising:
 (a) a fixed component providing:
 (i) said forward direction facing seat; 
 (ii) a back rest portion of said rearward direction facing seat; and 
 (iii) a hollow base structure operative to support said forward direction facing seat and said back rest portion of said rearward direction facing seat; and 
 
 (b) a moveable component providing:
 (i) a lounge; 
 (ii) a support structure on which said lounge rests; and 
 (iii) means adapting said lounge and support structure to be stored within said hollow base structure and when so stored to utilize an outer portion of said lounge as a sitting surface for said rearward direction facing seat and when withdrawn from said hollow base structure to utilize said outer portion as part of said lounge. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A seat assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said lounge support structure is adapted to serve as a storage receptacle. 
     
     
       3. A seat assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sitting surface portion of said rearward direction facing seat is formed so as to reside at a lower level than that at which the level of the sitting surface of said forward direction facing seat is formed. 
     
     
       4. A seat assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein movement of said moveable component is facilitated by drive means selected from electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drive means. 
     
     
       5. A seat assembly made up of both fixed and positionable components and adapted in a first position to provide in a back-to-back relation respective oppositely first and second direction facing seats and in a second position to provide a substantially horizontal lounge, said assembly comprising:
 (a) a fixed component providing:
 (i) said first direction facing seat; 
 (ii) a back rest portion of said second direction facing seat; and 
 (iii) a hollow base structure operative to support said first direction facing seat and said back rest portion of said second direction facing seat; and 
 
 (b) a moveable component providing:
 (i) a lounge; and 
 (ii) means adapting a portion of said lounge to be stored within said hollow base structure when not in use as a lounge and to be withdrawn from said hollow base structure when in use as a lounge. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A seat assembly as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said means adapting a portion of said lounge to be stored when not in use as a lounge also permits a portion of said lounge when not in use as a lounge to serve as a sitting surface for said direction facing seat. 
     
     
       7. A seat assembly, comprising:
 (a) a first seat, having a fixed back rest and a fixed sitting surface; 
 (b) a second seat having a fixed back rest and a positionable sitting surface; 
 (c) said back rests of both said seats together with said fixed sitting surface of said first seat being formed as a unitary structure; 
 (d) a hollow base structure supporting said unitary structure; and 
 (e) a lounge member having a top surface which includes said positionable sitting surface of said second seat and being positionable with respect to said hollow base structure to expand and contract a portion of said top surface of said lounge member. 
 
     
     
       8. The seat assembly of  claim 7  wherein said lounge member is adapted to serve as a storage receptacle. 
     
     
       9. The seat assembly of  claim 7  wherein the positioning of said lounge member is facilitated by drive means selected from electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic drive means. 
     
     
       10. The seat assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first and second seat back rest face in opposite directions and in a back to back relation. 
     
     
       11. The seat assembly of  claim 7  wherein said fixed sitting surface resides at an elevation higher than the elevation of said positionable sitting surface.